Belk in Gwinnett Place Mall to Close Doors

From Duluth Patch

Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth has been dealt another blow. Belk, one of the mall’s five anchors, announced it is closing in August 2013.

“The decision to close the store was made after carefully evaluating our business plans, competitive position and the financial performance of the store,” said Jessica M. Graham, vice president for communications and community relations for Charlotte, NC-based Belk.

The department store provides clothing, shoes and accessories for the family, cosmetics, a wedding registry, and merchandise for the home. Belk occupies 126,822 square feet of retail space in the mall.

Remaining anchors in Gwinnett Place, located in unincorporated Duluth, include Sears, JCPenney, Macy’s and Mega Mart. 

Gwinnett Place currently is being operated by McKinley, an Ann Arbor, MI-based real estate investment, asset management and property management firm that was appointed receiver for the mall last June. The mall has a new website at www.shopgwinnettmall.com that includes a directory of all the stores there.

Indiana-based Simon Property Group, former owner of the 1.285 million-square-foot Gwinnett Place, disposed of its interest in the shopping center last year. Simon previously transferred a $115 million loan on the mall to a special servicer.

Competition from nearby newer malls and changing demographics have economically impacted Gwinnett Place, which opened in 1984. Gwinnett Place has reportedly lost shoppers to Mall of Georgia in Buford and Discover Mills, now Sugarloaf Mills, in Lawrenceville, both owned by Simon.

What do you think about the Belk closing? Will you miss shopping at Belk at Gwinnett Place? Share you thoughts in the comment space below.